Tag Play
Also known as: tag out
A tag play requires a fielder to touch a runner with the ball, or a glove securely holding it, while the runner is off base. Used when no force is in effect, it is common on steals, run-downs, and any runner not forced to advance.
Whenever a runner has an open base to retreat to, that runner is not forced, and any out at that base requires an actual tag. Simply touching the bag is not enough. For instance, a runner on second with first base empty is not forced. The tag must be applied with the ball held securely in the glove or hand. If the ball is dropped during or immediately after contact, most rule sets do not count the out. Tag plays are also the standard for run-downs between bases and for a runner trying to score after tagging up on a fly ball.
Good tag technique brings the glove down to meet the runner's slide or approach rather than reaching high or wide. That minimizes the chance the runner slides around or under an unnecessarily high tag attempt.
Example
A runner on second attempts to steal third. The third baseman receives the throw and sweeps her glove down to tag the runner's leg just before the foot reaches the bag.
Why it matters
Knowing when a tag is required versus when a force applies prevents wasted motion and blown calls in close recreational-league games. SwingVantage's rules content helps newer players build this base-running literacy quickly.
How it shows up on video
Check that the ball is visibly secured in the glove at the moment of contact with the runner. That the tag is applied before the runner reaches the base, not at the same time with or after a slide past it.
Common mistakes
- Attempting a tag with the ball in the bare hand rather than secured in the glove, increasing the odds it pops loose on contact
- Reaching for a high tag rather than bringing the glove down low to meet a sliding runner's leg or hand
- Believing simply blocking the base without applying an actual tag is sufficient when a tag situation, not a force, is in effect
- Losing the ball during the tag attempt and still signaling an out, which most umpires will correctly overturn
In SwingVantage Motion Lab
Motion Lab does not see the ball, the glove or the runner, so it cannot review a tag.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if a fielder drops the ball during a tag attempt?
If the ball comes loose during or as a direct result of the tag attempt, the tag is not considered complete and the runner is safe.
Related terms
- Force PlayA force play is an out recorded by a fielder simply touching the base ahead of a runner who is required to advance. No tag is needed, because the batter-runner or a trailing runner has no choice but to run to that base.
- Glove-Side BackhandA glove-side backhand fields a grounder on the glove-hand side with a reach across the body. The glove turns outward; the feet do not shuffle to square up.
- Courtesy RunnerA courtesy runner is a substitute allowed to run the bases for a player who reaches base but is unable to run. That player stays in the game; common reasons include injury, age-based recreational-league eligibility, or a pitcher/catcher who needs rest between innings.
- Base RunningBase running in slow pitch means reading the ball off the bat and knowing when to push ahead or hold. Smart choices turn singles into extra-base chances.
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